Maracaibo, Venezuela, Nov 28, 2018 / 14:07 pm
Archbishop José Luis Azuaje Ayala of Maracaibo on Wednesday condemned the abuse of a female minor by Fr. Iván Marino Padial, for which the priest has been arrested.
According to local media the priest, a member of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and parochial vicar of Most Holy Trinity parish, was arrested Nov. 24 having been caught in the act in his car with a 12-year-old girl.
The case is in the hands of prosecutor's department for the protection of children.
Archbishop Azuaje and his auxiliary bishop, Ángel Francisco Caraballo Fermin, asked "forgiveness of the minor girl, her relatives, and the entire ecclesial community for the harm they have suffered in our very midst, which could lead them to doubt their faith because of the sin of someone who is called to care for them and encourage them on the path of faithfully following Jesus Christ."